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Intermediate Level Peak Conditioning Workout- Treadmill

This workout builds on the beginning peak conditioning workouts you have completed. Incorporating these workouts allows you to continue to develop a peak level of aerobic fitness for advancing your speed or power or for competition preparation. The intermediate level peak conditioning workout helps your system further develop endurance at moderately high intensity power outputs.

When you increase your workout intensity, lactate accumulates and the body must improve its capacity to process and buffer this acid in the blood in order to allow you to continue to achieve high level power output for longer periods of time. As lactate processing requires a strong aerobic base, it is essential to complete the cardio conditioning program and to intersperse cardio workouts with the peak interval workouts for these routines to be effective.

This workout requires the use of a treadmill with adjustable speed and incline. Treadmills provide an excellent aerobic workout using familiar body mechanics used in normal locomotion. The treadmill utilizes a moving belt; therefore it may take a little 'getting used to' before you feel stable at faster paces When first starting out maintain your balance by focusing on a point in the distant foreground, rather than looking down or until you are very comfortable using the treadmill.

The intermediate peak conditioning program will train your system to process and buffer lactate faster in order to further improve high intensity endurance, speed and power. It works by targeting a level of exertion that leads to lactate accumulation in order to challenge your system to learn to process and buffer it. Contrary to what you may think, the optimal intensity to target for this training is not maximal which is too high to achieve results.

Prior to entering the first peak interval, it is advantageous to complete one fat burning interval and one cardio interval in order to prepare the muscles for higher intensity exercise. As the peak intervals and workout duration lengthen, you will need more time in the fat burning zone at the beginning of the workout to prepare the muscles and heart for the workout. Throughout the workout, you will alternate fat burning intervals with cardio intervals to maintain the aerobic quality of the workout. The fat burning interval duration will begin to shorten relative to the peak intervals as you advance. The cool down may also need to be lengthened to allow your heart, muscles and body temperature to return to baseline by the end of the workout. Be sure to extend the cool down if your HR has not hit the target zone for at least 1 minute.

Prior Experience:

Prior Exercise Experience: Completion of entire cardio-conditioning program including beginning, intermediate and advanced workouts on either the elliptical or the treadmill.

Medical Clearance: Consult your physician before starting or advancing any exercise program. This workout is considered "vigorous" exercise and medical clearance is needed.

Workout Details:

Precor Machine: Any Precor Treadmill

Workout Duration: 45 minutes

Frequency: 1 day per week. You should include any of the levels of cardio conditioning workouts for the other 3-4 workouts during the week. The day following this workout should be fairly easy or take the day off to allow your body to regenerate and to achieve greater benefits.

Number of Weeks until Advancement from this Phase: Completion of 3-4 intermediate workouts one week apart. If you are not training for a competitive event, you may choose not to advance further in this program following this stage.

Next Recommended Workout Type: Advanced peak conditioning.

Program: Manual

Intensity Level: 85-90% of predicted HR max for peak intervals; 75-85% of predicted HR max for cardio intervals; and, 65-75% of predicted HR max for fat burning intervals. This workout should feel "hard" during the peak interval range (14-16 on the modified Borg scale), "somewhat hard" during the cardio interval range (12-13 on the modified Borg scale), and "fairly light" during the fat burning intervals (9-11 on the modified Borg scale). Warm-up and cool down are always between 55-65% of predicted HR max.

Speed: Varies depending on individual heart rate response. Stay at the velocity needed in order to keep your heart rate in the target range. If it seems too fast to maintain balance, then raise the incline slightly and slow the speed.

Incline: Varies with workout instructions.

Stride Rate: To determine your stride rate, count the number of times one foot strikes the ground per minute by counting over 15 seconds and multiply by 4. If you are jogging or running, you should aim for 86-92 strides per minute to optimally target the aerobic system.

Pre-Workout Tips:

Incorporate a general flexibility program as part of your regular exercise routine. If you plan to stretch prior to your workout, it's best to warm up your muscles first with 3-5 minutes of brisk walking.

Begin the workout adequately hydrated. Consume 8-12 ounces of water or sports drink within 1 hour prior to the workout.

Begin the workout properly nourished. Consume a meal or snack containing carbohydrates and protein 1 hour prior to the workout.

Do not work out if you are sick, injured or have a fever.

Use the handrail grips to see your target heart rate or purchase a HR belt which allows you to see your HR during the workout.

Cardio high limit: Multiply your predicted HR max by 0.85 to get your upper limit HR for the cardio intervals.

Peak low limit: Same as cardio high limit.

Peak high limit: Multiply your predicted HR max by 0.90 to get your upper limit HR for the peak intervals.

Write these 5 separate values on a piece of paper to refer to during your workout.

0-3 Minutes Warm Up

HR Target Zone = 55-65% of Predicted HR max.

Begin moving comfortably, finding a pace that allows you to reach your target zone without having to increase the incline. Try letting go of the handlebars and stabilizing your body by engaging your trunk and abdominal muscles. Use the bars for balance and to check your heart rate as needed.

3-8 Minutes Fat Burning Interval

Target HR range = 65-75% of Predicted HR max.

Target Muscle Group = Quadriceps and Calves

Keep the incline at 0%. Begin increasing pace to keep your HR in the 65-75% range. Your breathing should be comfortable and you should be able to converse without shortness of breath. If you are having breathing difficulty, slow down until you are comfortable.

8-13 Minutes Cardio Interval

Target HR range = 75-85% of Predicted HR max.

Target Muscle Group = Quadriceps and Hamstrings

Reduce the incline to 0%. Reduce your pace until you are able to stay in your HR. Note how many minutes it took foryour HR to drop into the target range. With improvements in cardio-fitness, your HR will drop quicker. The goal is to see the drop within 2 minutes of reducing the resistance.

13-18 Minutes Peak Interval

Target HR range 85-95% of Predicted HR max.

Target Muscle Group = Calves and Quadriceps

Reduce the incline to 1%. Increase your pace and continue to aim for a minimum of 86 strides per minute. Reduce pace if you are unable to stay in your HR range. If you can only stay in your target ranges by working at slower paces, that's fine. It may take days or weeks to see your speed increase at lower heart rates. It is normal to take a minute or two to see the HR elevate, and to have to wait until the third minute for the HR to drop into the proper range as it tends to overshoot by a few beats when you begin to work harder.

18-21 Minutes Fat Burning Interval

Target HR range = 65-75% of Predicted HR max.

Target Muscle Group = Quadriceps and Calves

Reduce the incline to 0%. Reduce your pace until you are able to stay in your HR. Note how many minutes it took foryour HR to drop into the target range. With improvements in cardio-fitness, your HR will drop quicker. The goal is to see the drop within 2 minutes of reducing the resistance.

21-26 Minutes Cardio Interval

Target HR range = 75-85% of Predicted HR max.

Target Muscle Group = Gluteals

Raise the incline to 3%. Adjust your pace to remain within the target range. If your heart rate drifts too high then reduce your pace to bring it into the proper range.

26-29 Minutes Fat Burning Interval

Target HR range = 65-75% of predicted HR max.

Target Muscle Group = Quadriceps and Calves

Reduce the incline to 0%. Adjust your speed to stay in your HR range at 86-92 strides per minute.

29-34 Minutes Peak Interval

Target HR range = 85-90% of Predicted HR max.

Target Muscle Group = Quadriceps and Calves

Place the incline at 0%. Increase your pace and continue to aim for a minimum of 86 strides per minute. Slow your pace if you are unable to stay in your HR range.

34-37 Minutes Fat Burning Interval

Target HR range = 65-75% of Predicted HR max.

Target Muscle Group = Quadriceps and Calves

Leave the incline at 0%. Adjust your pace to stay in your HR range.

37-42 Minutes Peak Interval

Target HR range = 85-90% of Predicted HR max.

Target Muscle Group = Gluteals

Place the incline at 3%. Adjust your pace to remain in the target HR range. It may take a couple of minutes for your HR to increase into the target range.

42-45 Minutes Cool Down HR

Target Zone = 55-65% of Predicted HR max

Lower the incline to 0%. Reduce your pace to bring your HR to the target range. See how long it takes you to reach the target range. With improvements in your fitness, your HR will lower more quickly with a reduction in exercise intensity. Continue the cool down until your HR has remained in the target range for a minimum of 1 minute.

Congratulations! You are continuing to improve your aerobic power, lactate processing and lactate buffering. You are reaching peak condition!